Wayland Carpenter & Millwright Apprentice Training Center
A Commission of 9 Original Artworks
The Wayland Carpenter and Millwright Apprentice Training Center is a striking space. defined by soaring ceilings, expansive walls, and a sense of openness that immediately communicates the importance of the work and training that occurs within. The 20-foot-high ceilings and exposed cross beams provide a dramatic canvas for artwork, creating opportunities for visually impactful, sculptural pieces that celebrate the trades.
This installations in the building represent the third training center in a legacy of artworks created for Millwright and Carpenter training centers in Michigan, following previous installations in Negaunee and Detroit. Continuing the tradition of occupation-related Industrial Arts, the works incorporate vintage and antique tools to create three-dimensional sculptures that reflect the skill, precision, and history of the trades. The forms engage the space with depth, rhythm, and movement, transforming walls, light, and shadow into an immersive experience that draws the eye and inspires reflection.
Together, the collection honors the legacy of the trades, celebrates the community that sustains them, and reinforces the Wayland Center as a place of learning, growth, and pride. Where the history of craftsmanship meets the energy and opportunity of the future.
Whiskey Sticks Installation
Whiskey Sticks is a monumental installation for the Wayland Carpenter and Millwright Training Center, composed of over 100 antique and vintage “whiskey sticks,” each carrying the rich history of tools once used with real whiskey. Rising 14 feet and extending over 25 feet along the wall, the sculptural levels project dramatically into the space, creating a sense of depth, rhythm, and movement. Curving and undulating in a dynamic, flowing form, the piece transforms utilitarian objects into a visual celebration of labor, craftsmanship, and history. Its sweeping presence commands attention, bridging past and present while energizing the training center with both scale and sculptural elegance.
Breakbit Drills Installation
The Break-Bit Drill installation at the Wayland Carpenter and Millwright Training Center repurposes a series of drills into a sculptural formation that undulates across the wall like a mechanical organism. Each piece is precisely positioned to create a rhythm that is both mathematically exact and energetic, evoking the relentless motion of machines at work. The metallic surfaces catch and reflect light, accentuating the industrial character of the tools while the staggered projection into the space gives the sculpture a raw presence. This piece celebrates the rigor, precision, and sweat of the trades; turning instruments of labor into something both formidable and hypnotically alive.
Hand Saws Installation
The Hand-Saws installation transforms reclaimed saws into a dramatic three-dimensional wall sculpture that appears to be sawing directly through the surface of the wall. The staggered tips create jagged, dynamic lines that energize the space, while the structural elements of the supporting pillars form a deep V shadow, framing the piece and reinforcing its presence. As sunlight moves across the space, the saws cast intricate, shifting shadows along the wall, turning the installation into a living composition of light and form. Industrial, precise, and boldly sculptural, the piece celebrates labor, craftsmanship, and the tactile beauty of the tools themselves.
Hammer Installation
The Hammer Installation at the Wayland Carpenter and Millwright Training Center is a masterclass in precision and kinetic energy. Every hammer is meticulously positioned; equidistant to the right, left, above, and below and forming perfect arches that suggest dynamic motion, as if the tools themselves are actively striking and lifting in invisible rhythm. The painstaking design took over a day to calculate, ensuring that each angle, spacing, and orientation is exact. Though the piece may appear understated at first glance, its subtle complexity pulses with energy, paying tribute to the exacting calculations and disciplined craftsmanship that define the trades. Shaped to form a “W” in honor of the Wayland Center, the installation quietly celebrates both precision and movement, capturing the rhythm, power, and vitality of skilled labor.
Gears Installation
The Metal Gearing Installation is a compact powerhouse of industrial precision and mechanical grit. Weighing nearly 300 pounds, it conceals a complex network of inner gears and layers, engineered to remain hidden yet fully functional. With a subtle prompt, the sculpture comes to life, moving with the exacting rhythm of machinery in motion. Every hidden layer and calibrated gear pays tribute to the Millwrights themselves and their skill, discipline, and intimate understanding of mechanics. The piece transforms raw industrial metal into a sculptural celebration of labor, calculation, and the relentless ingenuity at the heart of the trade.
